We may be in the company of a wrinkled old man bent over by age, but make no mistake, Ettore Zaccaria was for many decades the most feared Capibastone of all. His name did not appear in police records or newspapers. Others got the fame, but he got the profit.
“And you want the bambini to pass through my ports, is that it?”
Rinaldi, Palumbo, and Accorinti exchanged shameless smiles, victory written all over their faces. I, however, let my shoulders slump.
No, Dio. Per favore.
“Precisely, Don Zaccaria.” Accorinti took his eyes off the old man and fixed them on me. "Don Vicari will have to forgive me, but his ‘ndrina's quota in Gioia Tauro would be a great help to the business. In fact, I would say it is essential. Mind you, I'm willing to pay very well for it!"
I said nothing. I let the hatred reverberate through my bones once more.
“The Vicari’s quota in Gioia Tauro...” Don Zaccaria stood up and before any of us realized it, two of his men were inside the hall, waiting for him by the door. My soldati had orders never to get in the way of the Zaccaria if they wanted to live. Ettore Zaccaria picked up his silver cane and began to shuffle around the table, stopping behind me. One of his elderly hands, reekingof mothballs, rested on my shoulder. “I'll ask them to return the rest of your quota, Camillo.” Accorinti choked on his whiskey and Rinaldi's eyes widened. “I'll also take ten percent of the Zaccaria quota in all ports and divide it between the Vicari and the Barone as a sign of my respect and friendship.”
The urge to smile and hug the old man was impossible to describe, but I couldn't. Instead, I picked up the cloth napkin and pretended to wipe my lips so as not to escalate the situation, because that was what was about to happen. Antonio Palumbo's expression of hatred gave him away.
“Don Palumbo, Don Rinaldi, and Don Accorinti, I have only one thing to say to you.” Don Zaccaria's voice was solemn behind my back. “There is no money in the world worth a man's soul, and I intend to be buried with mine.”
Rinaldi stood up and slapped Accorinti on the shoulder, who imitated him. Don Palumbo followed them, and Barone and I decided to do the same. I moved to Don Zaccaria's left, and Filippo Barone took the space on his right. Suddenly, the room filled with more than a dozen of Zaccaria's men.
“Andiamo, Don Accorinti,” Rinaldi squeaked, absolutely terrified. I would have been too if I had just offended one of the most powerful men in the region.
What was I saying? Probably in all of Europe.
“Don Rinaldi is right. Let's go, Don Accorinti. There is no more business to do with these gentlemen.” Palumbo grabbed the little idiot's arm, and this time I couldn't hold back a wry smile.
That imbecile Accorinti was about to become a pawn in the hands of an old wolf. Antonio Palumbo played dirty, he always had, and it didn't take a genius to understand that he was ready to get his hands on the imbecile's sordid business.
To my surprise and that of most of those present, Cissio Accorinti shook off Palumbo and Rinaldi and advanced in our direction, stopping only when one of Zaccaria's men pointed a gun at his head.
“Of all those here, you are the one who intrigues me the most, Don Vicari, did you know that?” I raised an eyebrow, watching that imbecile smile like a drunk teenager. "You seem very attached to your ideals, so willing to reject a billion-dollar deal for them and keep what's left of your famiglia in jail... There you are, standing next to Don Zaccaria like a follower of good morals, yet you brought that American doll to Italy. It makes me wonder: did she come willingly, or are you justun lupo travestito da agnello."
Wolf in sheep's clothing or not, ice water flooded my veins.
Daisy.
He knew about Daisy.
“I don't know what you're talking about, Don Accorinti.”
“Yes, you do. Just yesterday I saw that little thing walking down Via Marina with one of your lackeys. In fact, she was in this very restaurant having dinner.”
“Ah! My new housekeeper.” I replied, glancing at my watch. I couldn’t show the panic rising in me. I might have considered Accorinti a stupid pig, but I wasn't so reckless as to fail to seethe danger he represented. “I'm sorry, Don Accorinti, I don't pay much attention to my employees.”
“Well, you paid attention to this one. Otherwise, you wouldn't have asked Don Finisterra for a favor to bring her here.” My head snapped up, staring at Accorinti. How did he...? “Surprise, surprise! I also have eyes and good contacts, Don Vicari. On the very day you contacted your Cosa Nostra friend, my santisti brought me the news.”
“Careful, Don Accorinti, you're entering very dangerous territory,” warned Filippo Barone.
Cissio Accorinti burst out laughing, twisting his body and clapping his hands.Fucking clown. “Do you really think I fear the Cosa Nostra? Or the Finisterra?” Another wave of laughter. “My contacts surpass all of theirs. Their influence will soon be nowhere near mine!”
“You're insulting the Cosa Nostra. Do you really think that's wise, Accorinti?” Barone insisted. However, these weren't warnings he was issuing. They were very real threats that the imbecile preferred to ignore. “I've seen the Finisterra destroy million-dollar businesses in two days.”
“Let them try, Don Barone. You were all taken out of the game a long time ago, even if you haven't realized it yet.” He growled, and there was no trace of the idiot anymore, but rather something dangerous, furious. He pointed at me. “By the way, Don Vicari. I love blondes.”
I moved against my better judgment, circling the table in mere moments, but two pairs of hands grabbed me. On one side, Filippo Barone, on the other, one of Zaccaria's men.
“See, Don Vicari? She wasn't just a housekeeper after all, was she?”
Chapter 37